Muslim (1): “Among what was revealed of the Quran was that ten nursings establish prohibition; then they were abrogated by five known nursings.” Thus, if they are fewer than five, they have no legal effect. Do not ask, for example, “What is the difference between the fourth and the sixth, or the fifth?” For this is Allah’s ruling, so it is obligatory to submit to it. Just as we do not ask, “Why is the noon prayer four units, rather than five or six?” These are matters determined solely by revelation.

It was also said that prohibition is established by three nursings, based on the Prophet’s ﷺ saying: “One suckling or two sucklings do not establish prohibition” (2), and his ﷺ saying: “Nor one suck nor two sucks” (3).

We say: the explicit wording of Aishah’s hadith indicates that three nursings do not establish prohibition, and this is what we maintain. For if we say that four nursings do not establish prohibition, then three are even less likely to do so. Yet the implied meaning of this hadith is that three nursings do establish prohibition. However, there is an explicit text: namely, that what establishes prohibition is five nursings. The principle held by the scholars is that an explicit indication takes precedence over an implied indication.

Some scholars held that even a single nursing establishes prohibition, because Allah Most High stated without qualification: “And your mothers who nursed you” [Surah al-Nisaʾ: 23]. It is said in response: when an unrestricted statement in the Quran is qualified by the sunnah, it becomes qualified, for the sunnah is the Quran’s counterpart: it clarifies and explains it, qualifies its unrestricted statements, and specifies its general statements.